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Opinion Letters to the Editor for June 1, 2010
Letters to the Editor for June 1, 2010
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Informed, reliable To the editor: On June 8, voters in Tuolumne County’s District 3 have the opportunity to elect someone who is informed, reliable and has been working to protect the unique character of this county for decades. Dave Bonnot’s positive approach to finding solutions to our local issues is refreshing and optimistic. He has good ideas to nurture and support businesses to make them successful and to create more jobs. He believes affordable housing is a solution to keeping our young families in the county. Dave is a Vietnam veteran, a small business owner, a parent, and someone who appreciates and cares about his community. I am voting for Dave Bonnot because he is trustworthy, independent, well-versed in our local government. He is for better planning and smart growth and I believe he will work hard for Tuolumne County. Join me in voting for Dave Bonnot for District 3 supervisor. Linda DuTemple Tuolumne For the voiceless To the editor: All elections, however messy by the foibles of human nature, haul into the bright light the character of a people. But as Americans, our character-revealing elections are unique. It is not be forgotten that the character of the American people was born from and, to this day, nurtured by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Yet, this formation comes with awesome responsibility. Our nation’s founding documents were written from a great humility: For these United States were Declared and so Constituted “under God.” Within the very marrow of those documents is the affirmation of life. An acknowledgment that life itself is a gift from God, not something concocted by man and defined upon a political whim. Enshrined in those documents is the duty to defend and protect that life. Doing so reveals the true character of the American people. Out of these concerns, the Friends for Life/Tuolumne County was formed. It is our mission to speak for the voiceless, especially the unborn. During an election when issues, propositions and candidates are vying for attention, it is important they they, too, are heard. We at Friends for Life ask that the electorate take into account, now and in November, how their decisions will impact (down to the very life) of those voiceless within our midst. They too, under God, are citizens. Steve Golay, secretary Friends for Life/ Tuolumne County Sonora Hidden agenda To the editor: Having spent 17 years as owners of small retail stores in both Arnold and Angels Camp, we are outraged at some of the statements being made by a candidate for the Calaveras County District 3 supervisor’s position. To even imply that one person individually has the power to bring down an area’s economy is far-fetched and silly at best. With the financial crisis and monetary problems facing the country and the entire world, it would be more prudent and correct to direct those remarks at our incompetent and corrupt leaders in Washington and Sacramento, who have led us down the wrong path for the previous 20 years. Even then, one should consider the establishment of big box stores in Sonora as leading factors in the weakening of the entire Calaveras County economy. Certainly, the large unemployment rate and the very weak real estate market have added great impact to the area’s economy as well. Due in a very large part to the efforts of the present District 3 supervisor, the quality of life in the Arnold area has remained high and even improved over the past 15 years. This includes establishment of the Arnold Logging Museum, improved recreational opportunities and highway access thereto, and improvement to public safety and health response times. There may be a hidden agenda in this campaign, and residents of District 3 should not take a chance on losing the qualities of life they are enjoying now. Art Paymiller Vivienne Paymiller Paradise Candidate who cares To the editor: I have known Jim Mele and his family since they moved to Sonora 22 years ago. I’d like to share a story about one of Jim Mele’s daughters, who watched our yard while we were gone on a trip for two months. One of our very old cats died while we were gone. She felt such compassion for us, knowing how much my husband loved that cat. She took good care of our cat, and tenderly buried him in our backyard. She is like her dad, Jim Mele, compassionate, reliable and honest. We are so very fortunate to have Jim Mele as our sheriff. He is someone who cares about you and me. Let’s keep him in office. Barbara L. Pugh Sonora Experience, judgment To the editor: Anyone who has followed the agonizing budget process of Tuolumne County over the past several years knows the supervisors and staff have been dealing on a daily basis with a worsening budget, and an unprecedented lack of funds for needed services. As a former county department head and current volunteer, I’ve seen Paolo Maffei cooperate with colleagues, staff and other agencies, working for the benefit of the county’s residents. Paolo has worked for smart growth, environmental policy that balances our greatest local asset, nature, with fire safety and an agricultural economy, and essential infrastructure improvements such as the Phoenix Lake bridge. Paolo’s commitment to human needs has shown in his service on the First 5 Commission, numerous ATCAA projects and the Behavioral Health Advisory Board. As the past director of the Tuolumne County Library, I appreciated Paolo’s support of the essential contribution the library makes to quality of life. He is an advocate for the WOW mobile library which serves our rural isolated seniors and children. He supports the tremendous effort made by hundreds of library volunteers and recognizes their need for competent staff to help them be productive. Any candidate can promise to solve all government problems, clean house, cut waste — the same old campaign rhetoric. These are challenging times requiring knowledge and experience in order to continue essential services with ever smaller budgets. Now more than any other time, we need experience and sound judgment, not empty slogans and a blank track record. Constance Corcoran Tuolumne (Constance Corcoran was Tuolumne County’s library director from 2000 until 2009). Spurious, unethical To the editor: Lots of deception takes place in the week or two before primary elections. One such fraud has occurred in Calaveras County’s third supervisorial district, which includes the Arnold area. “Attention Republicans, Voting Guide, Republican Primary 2010,” reads the large print on a recent campaign flier. Unsuspecting voters would think this is from an official Republican source. It suggests Republican support for the District 3 incumbent, Merita Callaway (a registered Democrat). The two local Republican groups have given official support to only one third district candidate, and that is Republican Bill McManus. The guide also purports Republican support for other non-partisan candidates listed for county offices. They may be fine candidates, but no such support has officially been given. Republicans do not support one Republican candidate over another in a local Primary Election. Further, the California Republican Party rejects the deceptive Proposition 14 “Open Primary” which excludes political parties which do not meet a certain numerical threshold, taking only the top two vote-getters regardless of party (e.g. two Republicans or two Democrats) and eliminates write-in candidates. It deserves a “no” vote. The disclaimer at the bottom of the guide says appearance in the guide is paid for by the ballot measure supporters and the candidates listed (indicated by an asterisk), and does not imply support by any particular political party. This may get the Voter Guide company from Torrance off the hook legally, but it is spurious, unethical and a deliberate attempt to deceive. Republicans beware. Calaveras County Republican Party, Jean Turpen, chairman Arnold Unfair, reckless To the editor: I am responding to Chris Luckie’s unfair and reckless May 24 letter, in which he denigrated the character and integrity of District 2 Supervisor Paolo Maffei. Mr. Luckie made baseless and false comments. He said that it is incumbent that all supervisors support the majority board positions, adding that a supervisor has “no right” to represent his or her opinion as if it is an official policy. He added that writing “unauthorized letters” is “inappropriate, unconscionable, unethical and unacceptable.” He urged readers to vote for Maffei’s election opponent, Randy Hanvelt, the “ethical” candidate. A supervisor is an independent voice, elected to voice his or her opinions whether they coincide with majority or not. Each supervisor has his or her own county letterhead and is absolutely authorized to write letters. At no time did Maffei represent his opinion as county policy. Mr, Luckie implied that, because Maffei didn’t vote with the majority, he supports closing forest roads. In fact, Maffei supports opening some roads if weather and road conditions permit. Mr. Luckie implied that, because Maffei served on the advisory committee of Restore Hetch Hetchy, that he supports it. In fact, the Board of Supervisors appointed Maffei to that panel. He has publicly stated that he considers restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley a non-issue. Mr. Luckie objected to Maffei’s letter to the Bureau of Land Management, espousing his position on oil-shale policy, suggesting he was falsely representing the county position on this subject. He was not. He was simply expressing his personal views. Paolo Maffei has been a voice of moderation, decency, reason and common sense on the Board of Supervisors. Robert Dorroh Sonora |
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